Tom was pushed into a seat by his sister, and helped with no unsparing hand; whilst the mother hung over him, eager not to lose a single word.
"Yes, truly, for the time being I have had enough of London town," answered Tom; "although it is a monstrous fine city, and I should well like to see it again, as indeed I may.

But for the moment I am on my way to foreign lands, as my father wished.

I am like to have work to do there for my lord of Marlborough, whose coming to this country has set all the town in a commotion, as perchance you have heard." They had heard something of it even at Gablehurst; and Rachel eagerly asked Tom if he had seen the great Duke.
"Oh, many times," answered Tom, with the complacency of one who feels himself a great man in his present surroundings.

"I witnessed many pageants in which he took part; and I was of the same company at the house of my Lord Craven, and was presented to him, and had speech with him!" Mother and sister were impressed and surprised; but yet Tom was so great a personage in their estimation that perhaps they took this piece of news more quietly than more enlightened dames would have done.

They made him tell his story from end to end, sitting with his feet towards the hearth, the cheery glow of the fire warming his limbs and imparting a sense of well-being and homelike comfort.
"And who is this Lord Claud, who has shown you so much kindness ?" asked the mother, when the outlines of the story at least had become known to them.
"That I cannot rightly tell you," answered Tom; "there is some mystery about his birth and name.